Quadruple-dipping in Sin City

Oh, to suffer the plight of the lucky, worthy, and deserving residents and community organizations in Capital City's Ward Four, which is partially subtended by Federal Electoral District 10006, St. John's East (or whatever it's called this time.)

Not only do they get to avail themselves of the well-known charitable impulses of the Members of the House of Assembly (in this case they have four to hit up, John Ottenheimer, Kathy Dunderdale, Jack Byrne and Bob Ridgley), and of His Excellency Taoiseach Williams himself, but also of federal MP Norm Doyle, whose charitable impulse is, of course, beyond reproach, and, one learns today, of local Big Man Around City, Ron Ellsworth, Councillor, Ward 4:

Later, Wells told Ellsworth he should cut his own salary before suggesting a cut in the mayor's pay. Councillors are paid about $35,000 per year.

Ellsworth, a successful businessman, said most of his salary winds up in community groups.

"My salary goes back into my ward," Ellsworth said.

It's nice to let people know where it goes.

It would be better to remind people where it comes from.

As Brian Jones (yes, Brian Jones) put it in a May 2005 Telegram column:

We're too easily swayed by image, and by superficial actions masquerading as something profound. It may seem awfully nice for a politician to give his or her public salary to charity, but it actually reveals a considerable level of contempt.

Oh, to have the problem that Ward 4 has; a surplus of charitable and well-heeled elected officials; a veritable glut.